The Philosopher Kings: A Novel of Thessaly

The Philosopher Kings is a historical novel set in ancient Thessaly. The novel follows the story of a young man named Socrates who is sent to study with the philosopher Plato. Socrates quickly becomes disillusioned with Plato's teachings and sets out on his own journey to find truth. Along the way, he meets a cast of characters who challenge his beliefs and help him to develop his own philosophy.

The Philosopher Kings: A Novel (Thessaly Book 2)

by Jo Walton

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	588 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	349 pages

FREE

The novel is set in the 4th century BC, during a time of great political and social upheaval in ancient Greece. Thessaly was a region of Greece that was known for its fertile plains and its powerful horse cavalry. The novel's protagonist, Socrates, is a young man from Athens who is sent to study with Plato in the Academy, a school of philosophy that Plato founded in Athens. Socrates quickly becomes disillusioned with Plato's teachings, which he finds to be too abstract and impractical. He sets out on his own journey to find truth, and along the way he meets a cast of characters who challenge his beliefs and help him to develop his own philosophy.

The Philosopher Kings is a well-written and engaging novel that provides a glimpse into the life and times of Socrates. The novel's characters are well-developed and the plot is suspenseful. The novel is also thought-provoking and it raises important questions about the nature of truth, justice, and the good life.

Characters

• Socrates: The protagonist of the novel. Socrates is a young man from Athens who is sent to study with Plato in the Academy. He quickly becomes disillusioned with Plato's teachings and sets out on his own journey to find truth.
• Plato: The founder of the Academy and one of the most famous philosophers of all time. Plato's teachings are based on the idea that the world of appearances is an illusion and that the true reality is the world of Forms.
• Aristotle: A student of Plato who later became one of the most famous philosophers of all time. Aristotle's philosophy is based on the idea that the world is made up of matter and form, and that the goal of human life is to achieve happiness.
• Diogenes: A Cynic philosopher who believes that the best way to live is to reject all material possessions and live a simple life.
• Epictetus: A Stoic philosopher who believes that the key to happiness is to accept the things that we cannot change and to focus on the things that we can.

Themes

• The nature of truth: The novel raises important questions about the nature of truth. Socrates believes that truth is something that can be discovered through reason and argument. Plato believes that truth is something that can only be known through intuition and contemplation. The novel explores the different ways of knowing and the different ways of understanding the world.
• The meaning of justice: The novel also explores the meaning of justice. Socrates believes that justice is something that is based on reason and law. Plato believes that justice is something that is based on the Forms. The novel explores the different ways of understanding justice and the different ways of achieving it.
• The good life: The novel also explores the question of the good life. Socrates believes that the good life is one that is lived in accordance with reason and virtue. Plato believes that the good life is one that is lived in contemplation of the Forms. The novel explores the different ways of living a good life and the different ways of achieving happiness.

The Philosopher Kings is a well-written and engaging novel that provides a glimpse into the life and times of Socrates. The novel's characters are well-developed and the plot is suspenseful. The novel is also thought-provoking and it raises important questions about the nature of truth, justice, and the good life.

I highly recommend The Philosopher Kings to anyone who is interested in ancient Greece, philosophy, or historical fiction.

The Philosopher Kings: A Novel (Thessaly Book 2)

by Jo Walton

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	588 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	349 pages

FREE